The world of Islam is being
shaped in part by the competition between various extremist interpretations,
some supported by Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi Establishment, others by Iran’s Mullah
Establishment. We should never lose sight of either side’s contributions to
radicalism.

21:55

And this diagram doesn't even show the hidden network of support that IS/Daesh and some Jihadi groups have.

Washington who had objected last
year to Turkey plan for intervention in Syria, had to approve of them this time
around, even though the move is basically targeting Washington’s Kurdish allies,
the YPGs, more than IS/Daesh, and even though the move is bound to undermine the
fight against IS/Daesh, considering that YPGs form the backbone of the SDF, the
on-the-ground rebel coalition conducting that fight. Why? Hassan Hassan
explains:

In addition to the
tension between the United States and Turkey over Fethullah Gulen, the cleric
accused by Erdogan of staging the coup last month, Ankara’s talks with Moscow
and Tehran strengthened Turkey’s standing.

As a result,

[d]uring
Vice-President Joe Biden’s visit to Ankara on the day of Turkey’s intervention,
the U.S. not only approved of the military campaign inside Syria, but it also
finally acted on its promise to ask the YPG to leave the areas west of the
Euphrates River, a move that would have prevented much tension between the two
countries and possibly even the need to intervene militarily.

Still, the current Turkish
operations, which include use of Turkish air force, have primarily been targeting YPGs’
positions around Jarablus and Manbij, than IS/Daesh units located further south
and east.

"That is still off the
table because of the implied military commitment that it would require in order
to effectively enforce it," White House spokesman Josh Earnest replied
when asked if President Obama has reconsidered his opposition in light of
Syrian fighter jet aggression against U.S. troops.

"The concern is that
while it sounds simple to maintain that kind of area, ultimately you're
responsible for protecting the borders of that safe zone and then policing that
safe zone once it's been created," he explained. "That would be
work-intensive to say the least. It would be dangerous."

Doing so also
"would likely require a greater U.S. military commitment. And all of that
would come at the expense of our ongoing efforts to focus on degrading,
ultimately destroying, ISIL," Earnest said.

The level of stupidity, arrogance,
willful blindness and irresponsibility involved in maintaining this position is
staggering. By refusing to tackle certain challenges due to their complex
nature, and because they’d require continuous commitment over the long haul, the
Obama Administration has made all but certain that the Syrian conflict will become
more bloody and complicated than it would have been, and that its resolution
would ultimately require much more commitment on part of the United States and
its NATO and regional allies. But so long as such commitment did not happen on
the Administration’s watch, Mr. Obama and his top advisers can claim success.

In the real world though, the one
abandoned by the administration, this act of wantonness has created a major
humanitarian disaster and a multifaceted security challenge that need to be handled
by future administrations – a task that will require embarking on exactly the
kind of commitment that the Obama administration chose to avoid. Through the
surge, George W. Bush has tried to own his debacle in Iraq and take responsibility
for it in order to avoid passing it to the future president of the United
States. President Obama, on the other hand, refuses even to acknowledge that a
mistake was made. By pointing to the increased amount of white hairs in his
head and tying it to the Syrian conflict, it seems as though he seems himself
as the ultimate victim. Perhaps he even expects an apology from the Syrian
people for mistiming their revolution.

Why
Turkey Went to War in Syria. “It’s fear of a Kurdish state — even more than the
Islamic State. But things could get complicated with Washington supporting
Kurdish rebels.”

The quick pullout by IS from
Jarablus indicates that its particular units there were only meant as
place-holders for the Turks for when the time came for their direct entry into
the Syrian theater. Now these units can go elsewhere to carry on their primary
fight against YPGs. Indeed, it seems that Turkish army units that have already
entered Jarablus are now engaged in shelling
Kurdish units that are still gathered in the vicinity of the town. YPGs units
also withdrew from Manbij, following Biden’s warnings
to them during his recent visit to Turkey. Would Turkish units now move in to
secure this won as well? Perhaps. But since the tow is no now under the control
of local councils and FSA units close to Turkey this may not be necessary at
this stage. Still, by entering into Jarablus Turkey seems bent on establishing
its now zone of influence in northern Syria, one that splits Kurdish enclaves
in the northwestern and northeastern parts of the country undermining the
Kurdish Party’s PYD’s attempt at establishing a Kurdish-controlled federal
entity in the northern parts of Syria, which seems to be the goal.

14:21

Note 3: Obama’s behavior
in Syria is reminiscent of Hafiz Al-Assad’s behavior in Lebanon: at one point
or another in the conflict every combatant side was an enemy or an ally,
depending on a variety of conditions. But here is where the similarities end. In
Lebanon, Assad’s tactics made him loathed but feared and in some quarters even
respected. Obama’s tactics, on the other hand, earned him neither fear nor
respect, be it in Syria, Lebanon, or the entire region. Moreover, Assad’s
tactics helped him emerge as the primary power in charge in Lebanon. The same
cannot be said of Obama’s tactics, as the U.S. is hardly in control of anything
taking place in Syria. In fact, it seems clear to most that Iran and Russia
have more leverage there than the United States.

14:13

Note 2: Within the context
of the Syrian civil war, the preponderance of war crimes, including summary
mass executions and even head chopping are perpetrated by the Assad regime and
its death squads, not ISIS, Al-Nusra, or any rebel group. The fact that all
sides are committing crimes at this stage should not distract from this fact
and from the issue of proportionality in general, lest we end up confusing
cause for effect. Without a major
shakeup within the Assad regime, one that includes a change on the very top,
there could be no resolution to this conflict, and no end to the war crimes. No
amount of lipstick can ever make the pig that is Syria’s genocidaire become
acceptable. Although some scenarios for ending the conflict might require us to
forgo the issue of holding him accountable for his heinous crimes in exchange for
his relinquish of power, this should be the only concession that could ever be
provided to him. The Obama administration might have chosen to pivot away from
this proposition as well as from the conflict in Syria as a whole at this
stage, but the next president of the United States should not.

Note 1: When examining the
growing list of war crimes in Syria, we should bear in mind that the same human
rights activists and organizations are responsible for documenting all abuses irrespective
of the party committing them, be it the Assad regime, the Russians, Hezbollah
and other Iran-funded Shia militias, the Islamic State (Daesh), Al-Nusra and
other extremist organizations, Islamist groups, rebels units (FSA), Kurdish
militias (YPGs) or the NATO members taking part in the anti-ISIS Western
alliance. Despite their pro-revolution sympathies, these groups and individuals
have been doing a stellar and professional job at tremendous risk to their
lives, as they have often been targeted by all and sundry, but especially the
Assad regime, IS/Daesh and Al-Nusra.

13:24

For
those enthralled by “iconic moments,” few more from… where else? Syria.

This step is bound to strengthen
the Assad regime’s resolve, supported by Iran, to keep fighting for control of
Damascus, and would make any negotiations over transition an exercise in
futility, unless, as Fabrice Balanche argues,
Assad’s control, of Damascus is threatened. But threatening Damascus risks
transforming it into another Aleppo. A forced removal of Assad from the scene
through an internal coup or assassination might be the only alternative left to
save Damascus and the rest of Syria, and end the conflict.

She wears a not so itsy tiny weeny
yellow polka dot burqini… and why the hell not?

The
personal politics of wearing a burkini. “The burkini is not a political
project, but will become one if it is banned. As for enslavement, the last time
I checked, feminism was about empowering women to make choices for themselves –
free of coercion from the state. Burkini-clad women aren’t enslaved or
political projects – they’re just women who are retaining their modesty while
having fun by the pool or at the beach.”

Burkini ban comes as part of an anti-radicalization
move in France. But the Burkini is actually rejected by radical Islamists who
think it’s un-Islamic, since it is meant to allow for Muslim women to go to
public beaches where they can intermingle with non-Muslims men and women. The
ban, therefore, in effect, discriminates against practicing conservative
Muslims, that is, the very segment of the Muslim population that is actively
being courted by radicals and that is trying to resist by finding ways to
integrate into the larger society without comprising its values. The decision
by the French highest administrative court to suspend
the ban is a welcome measure, but does not mark the end of the phenomenon as
other town council might end up adopting bans even at the risk of seeing them
suspended by the courts. The battle continues.

12:33 pm

In
Brief

Remembering
Mika and Syria's tragedy. “Japanese journalist Mika Yamamoto one of more than 100
journalists killed while trying to report on Syria's civil war.” Almost all foreign journalists killed
covering Syria were killed by Assad regime, by being targeted or caught under
bombardment from its planes and cannons.

Iran
Vessels Harassed U.S. Destroyer Near Persian Gulf, Navy Says. Fifth Fleet
spokesman calls interaction ‘unsafe and unprofessional.’ Considering the
price that the Obama Administration was willing to pay for it, namely allowing
for the genocide in Syria to proceed, the increased belligerency shown by
Iran’s leaders should come as no surprise.

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